State
Republican Monica De La Cruz Secures South Texas Congressional Seat
The Republican incumbent faced off against her 2022 Democrat opponent, Michelle Vallejo, in a rematch.
Sen. Ted Cruz Beats Colin Allred for US Senate Seat
Cruz will now serve his third consecutive term.
Research Highlights the Paths for Growth of Nuclear Power in Texas
Life:Powered suggests nuclear generated energy may be the answer to Texas’ future energy needs.
Study: Sports Betting Increases Strain on Vulnerable Households
Texas lawmakers have recently pushed a sports betting policy that would harm Texans.
State Archive
84th Taxes
Along with strict spending limits, one of our founding policy interests has been to see the state’s business “margins” tax reformed and reduced to the point of elimination. This 84th Session of the Texas Legislature finally saw definitive action on the measure. Both...
Limited Budget Growth
Within the next day or two, members of the Texas Senate and House will finalize a state budget. Remarkably, it is one that meets the minimum threshold of “not spending everything.” Last year, conservative groups joined together as the “Conservative Texas Budget...
Cook Pushes New Filming Ban
Under legislation passed late last night by Texas House Democrats and a minority of the GOP caucus, it would be unlawful for citizens or journalists to record conversations with lawmakers at the Capitol without the consent of the politicians. Of course, Texans living...
Lawmakers Shield Themselves, Attack Rights of Citizens
As was widely expected, House Republicans took what was an ethics bill and flipped it on its head. Authored by State Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano), SB 19 was passed unanimously in the Texas Senate and included notable measures such as transparency and disclosure...
Weakened Campus Carry Bill Proceeds
Half an hour before midnight, when pending legislation would have died to legislative deadlines, the Texas House passed a measure that would expand concealed carry on college campuses. Though the measure passed with a bipartisan majority of (101-47), the road to...
The Republican Who Protected Unions (And Democrats)
It’s an issue that united small business, big business, the Republican establishment, and the conservative grassroots. It drew the ire of the Democratic Party and labor unions. The legislative initiative was killed not by parliamentary tricks organized by Democrats,...
The Broken Promises of Campaign Finance Reform
Texas is currently considering sweeping changes to its system of campaign finance and government ethics laws. The drive behind these changes, we are told, is to eliminate corruption and bring transparency to the public. But some pause should be taken to examine...
Political Cover-up Grows in Austin
A couple of weeks ago, news broke that the conservative American Phoenix Foundation (APF) had been covertly filming legislators, lobbyists, and media in Austin during the current legislative session, compiling over 800 hours of video evidence. Time will only tell the...
“Ethics” Bills Ferret Out Self-Serving Politicians
Two so-called “ethics” bills relating to campaign finance regulation recently exposed which legislators are working to expand the liberty of their constituents and which are fighting to protect themselves in future elections. Last Monday evening, House Bill 22 passed...